Collapsible chair



De- 30, 1930. w. J. BAUER COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR Filed May 5', 192e 2Sheets-Sheet 1 www? rTOZ' r ATTORNEY Dec. 30, -1930. w. J. BAUERCOLLAPSIBLE CHAIR 2 sheds-sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1928 INVENToR l:fifa/afer""i-IArToRNEY VJILLM BAUER, OF NEW YGl-, fi'. Y., ASSGNR TO PROJECTHOLDING- CORPORA- TION, OF NEvV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NE YORKCGLLAPSIBLE CHAER Amman@ med May 5,

rlhe invention relates to chairs,}more particularly ofthe automaticfolding or collapsible type suitable for compact storagcrwhen desired.lit has for its object to provide, in a chair of this character, meanswhereby the seat portion thereof may have independent movement and bevcaused to assume a position betweenV its normal horizontal operativelocation and the back portion of said chair when ther latter is inextended condition. This feature is of particular value when the chairisused in halls, auditoriums, etc., especially in groups oftwo oir-moreindividual chairs arranged in rows, as it enables ready passage in andout between successive rows of the chairs whose occupants may thentemporarily stand more or less within the chair itself.

The invention has for its object, also, certain features ofVconstruction which simplify the chair, for example, it dispenses withthe use of any gearing or like mechanism for ef` footing the separationof the leg members of the chair, as inthe manner set forth in mycopending application, Serial No. 225,439.

in carrying out my invention,'as embodied in the novel collapsiblechair, a rear pair of legs is pivotally secured at the respective upperendsto rearward extensions of the front pair of legs, the seat member ofthe chair being hingedly attached along its rear edge, for example, to arod which is mounted for longitudinal movement in the said rear pairoflegs. Supporting' means, as spring-urged plungers, to tln'send aremovably mounted therein and project attheir lower or outer ends `beyondthe corresponding `lower ends of therear pair of chair legs to engagewith the surface upon which'the chair is to be supported.

Moreover, a. stop barfis arranged in front of l rod, being mountedbetween the front pa Straps or like expedientsI are also provided toconnect the said bar with the rod, being pivoted or hinged at theirjunction with the latte-r.

ln addition, means are included for automatically locking or holding thesaid seat iin of `legs and pivotally attached thereto, the' seatrestmgthereou in normal position;V

Serial No. 275,333.

a more or less vertical plane to assume a. position intermediate itsnormal horizontal location and the chair back, said means becon1- ingeffective merelV upon manually raising the said seat and acting,further, to maintai the seat securely within the plane of the legs ofthe chair when the latter is collapsed. i

rlhe nat-ure of the invention, however, best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is av perspective view of the novel cha-ir in open conditionready for use.

F ig. 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through a rearlegof the chair.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the chair collapsed or folded condition.

Fig. 4- is a vertical section of the chair in open condition, showingthe seat thereof in the intermediate raised position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view illustrating the manner ofconnecting the sea-t between the two pairs oflegs.

Fig. 5a is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5e-5a, Fig.5,

Fig. 6 is ar horizontal section talren on the line 6-6, F ig. 5 of thedrawings, and lool-- ing in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the novel chair comprises a rigid, one-pieceouter frame, for example, the inverted U-shape niece l0 whichconstitutes the pair of ront legs whose ei;- tensions form thesupporting frame for tue back portion ll ofthe chair. A pair of rearlegs l2 is designed to fit within the frame l0 and these leg members arepivot-ally attached at their upper ends, which extend above the chairseat member 13, to the said extensions of the front pair of legs. A rungmember ll may be secured across the lower eXtremiof the pair of rearlegs '12, but it is preferred to construct the pair of front legs ofsuflicient rigiditv not to require such rung and so allow an occupant toenter more or less within the chair when the seat is elevated, ashereinafter set forth. i

This seat is mounted in a novel manner so as to permit movement of thesaine independently of the supporting pairs of legs and such as not tointerfere with the collapse and fil) n Ld

extension of the chair as a whole; and the same, furthermore, is adaptedto be slidably mounted relatively to thc pair of rear legs. To this end,a rod extends between the same, the ends of the rco being n'iounted inrecesses 16 of plunger-s 17 sliding within 'the legs 12 which aretubular to receive said plungers. The said red is to be held therebyagainst rotation,forexainplebysona `its ends, as shown, and forming therecesses 16 arcort'lingly, while the inner face op each Aleg is slottedlongitudinally downward so that said rod may be depressed when the chairis to be collapsed. The extent of its upward movement is determined bystops 1S at the upper end of the slots and projecting inwardly from therespecti re .ieg members, the same being adapted to contact with the rodendsI when the seat attains tl e proper level.

Rod 15, moreover, passes frey through the rear portion of said seat, orraf ier the downturned flange or rim 19 thereof, so that said seat isswingably mounted thereon at this portion and indirectly supported bythe said pair of rear legs through the plunger-s l? thereof. The outerends of the latter project beyond the corresponding lower ends of thelegsl l2 to contact with the floor or other support for the chair; andwhen the latter is in the collapsed state, as indicated in Fig. 8, saidplungers will project an apprcciz bie distance beyond the legextremities, being positiiv'ely urged outwardly through the medium of aspring 20 coiled about the upper reduced end 2l of each plunger andbearing against a shoulder 22 thereof.

The sea-t 13 is also connected to and adapted to be supported by thepair of front 10, for exampie, through a bar 25 pivotally connected tothe said legs between the same and at the desired height for the saidseat; and by a pair of straps 25 or the like which are rigidly securedto the said bar and ei;- tend rearwardly to hinge about the rod 15 whichis provided with cylindrical portions 15 over which the straps 28 areturned. By this expedient, the two pairs of legs are free to swingrela-tively to each other to bring the rear pair substantially withinthe plane of the front pair, the seat 13 s ng upwardly therewith and atthe same t me moving downwardly at the rear port-i on to occupy aposition in the same plane, as indicated in Fig.

Stop means as the Vlinger 27, secured to the underside of the seat areadapted to contact with the 12 on the return or inward movement of theseat and project laterally from opposite sides of said seat to preventthe same from swinging bach' 'ardly beyond the plane of the pair offront legs; and the lair 25 is provided with the longitudinal slots toaccommodate said fingers when the seat is in its lowered operativeioca-tion. Moreover, a pair of buffers 29 may be provided on theunderside of the seat, for example, adjacent the fingers 27, to cushionthe seat when the same is lowered.

As the said seat is thus movable up and down independently of the legmembers, pro` vision has been made to retain the same in a more or lesselevated position intermediate its normal horizontal location and theback of the chair. To this end, a resilient plate V3() may be rigidlyattached to the underface of the seat with projecting portion or tongue31 thereof designed to bear upon the flattened surface 32 of the rod 15.This will serve to maintainthe seat in its elevated or semi-elevatedposition to allow of convenient passage between successive rows of thesechairs; and since no rung member is necessary across the lower portionof the pair of front legs 10, an occupant of the chair may stand wellwithin the chair itself to allow others to pass.

A further flattened face 33 is provided on the rod 15 for engagementwith the resilientplate to assist in maintaining the scat within theplane of the two pairs of legs when said chair is extended; andresilient locating iingers 34 adjacent the tongue portion 31 areprovided on the said plate to ride in circular transverse grooves 35over the periphery of the rod to restrict lateral play of the seat.

In extending the chair for use, the two pairs of legs are separated bypressing downwardly and forwardly on the rear pair to force therespective plunger elements inwardly, this having the eifect, also, ofmoving outwardly the seat member through its rod engagement with thesaid plunger and locates it in its intermediate position. There upon,when the leg members are positioned, the seat may be manually lowered tothe horizontal location indicated in Fig. 1. ln collapsing the chair,this may conveniently be effected either by swinging the seat manuallyinwardly to its limit while raising the chair, or merely by lifting thechair from the ground or support, the spring-urged plunger serving todraw the seat to its innermost position.

I claim:

1. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair of rearlegs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends to eX- tensions ofthe front pair of legs and adapted to fit within the sam'e, a seatswingably carried along its rearward portion by the rear pair of legsand movable longitudinally thereof, means slidable relatively to thercspective rear legs, projecting beyond their corresponding lower endsand adapted to support said seat, and a stop bar pivotally secured tothe front pair of legs and hingedly connected with the seat supportingmea-ns, said bar affording a support for an intermediate portion of theseat.

2. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair tid ofi

loo

of front legs, a pair of rear legs pivotally secured at their respectiveupper ends to eX tensions of the front pair of legs and adapted to iitwithin the same, a rod non-rotatably mounted in said rear pair of legs,a seat swingably carried along its rearward portion by said rod, meansslidable relatively to the respective rear legs, projecting beyond theircorresponding lower ends and supporting said rod, and a stop barpivotally secured to the front pair of legs and hinged to said rod, saidbar adording a support for an intermediate portion of the seat.

3. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair oftubular rear legs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends tovextensions of the front pair of legs and adapted to iit within thesame, a seat swingably carried along its rearward portion by the rearpair of legs and movable longitudinally thereof, plungers slidablerelatively to the respective rear legs, projecting beyond theircorresponding lower ends and adapted to support said seat, and a stopbar pivotally secured to the front pair of legs and hingedly connectedwith the seat supporting means, said bar affording a support for aninterme diate portion of the seat.

4. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair oftubular rear legs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends toextensions of the front pair of legs and adapted to fit within thesam'e, a seat swingably carried along its rearward portion by the rearpair of legs and movable longitudinally thereof, plungers slidablerelatively to the respective rear legs, projecting beyond theircorresponding lower ends and adapted to support said seat, resilientmeans acting on said plungers to force the same normally outward, and astop bar pivotally secured to the front pair of legs and hingedlyconnected with the seat supporting means, said bar affording a supportfor an intermediate portion of the seat.

5. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair of rearlegs pivotally secured at their lrespective upper ends to eX- tensionsof the front pair of legs and adapted to fit within the same, a rodnon-rotatably mounted in said rear pair of legs, a seat swingablycarried along its rearward portion by said rod, plungers slidablerelatively to the respective rear legs and projecting b eyond theircorresponding lower ends, said plungers being recessed to receive theopposite ends of the rod, and a stop bar pivotally secured to the frontpair of legs and hinged to said rod, said bar affording a support for anintermediate portion of the seat.

6. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair of rearlegs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends to eX tensions ofthe front pair of legs and adapted to iit within the same, a rodnon-rotatably mounted jin said rear pair of legs,a seat swingablycarried along its rearward portion by said rod, plungers slidablerelatively .to

thel respective rear legs and projecting be-y yond their correspondinglower ends, said plungers being recessed to receive the opposite squareends of the rod, and a stop bar pivotally secured to the front pair oflegs and hinged to said rod, said bar aiiording a support for anintermediate 'portion of the seat.

i". A- collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair ofrear legs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends to extensionsof the front pair of legs and adapted to fit within the same, a seatswingably carried along its rearward portion by the rear pairof legs andmovable longitudinally thereof, means slidable relatively to therespective rear legs, projecting beyond their corresponding lower endsand adapted to support said.seat, a stop bar pivotally secured to thefront pair of legs and hingedly connected with the seat supportingmeans, said bar affording a support for an intermediate portion of theseat, and stop members carried by the seat to limit the extent ofbackward movement of the same and adapted toriit within slots of thebar.

8. VA collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair of rearlegs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends to eX- tensicnsofthe front pair of legs and adapted to fit within the same, a seatswingably carried along its rearwardportion by the rear pair of legs andmovable longitudinally thereof, means slidable relatively to therespective rear legs, projecting beyond their corresponding lower endsand adapted to support said seat, a stopwbar pivotally secured to thefront pair of legs and hingedly connected with the seat supportingmeans, said bar affording a support for an intermediate portion of theseat, stop members carried by the seat, having buffer portions to limitthe extent of backward movement of the same and adapted to t withinslots of the bar, and further buffer elements carried by the seat tocontact with said bar.

9. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, 'a pair of rearlegs pivotally securedV at their respective upper ends to eX- tensionsof the front pair of legs and adapted to fit within the same, a rodnon-rotatably mounted in said rear pair of legs, a seat swingablycarried along its rearward portion by said rod, means slidablerelatively to the respective rear legs, projecting beyond theircorresponding lower ends and supporting said rod, a stop bar pivotallysecured to the front pair of legs, and straps connecting said bar withthe rod and hingedly attached to the latter, said bar affording asupport for an intermediate portion of the seat.

10. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair of rearlegs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends to eX- tensions ofthe front pair of legs and adapted to fit within the saine, a rodnon-rotatably mounted in said rear pair of legs, a seat swingablycarried along its rearward portion 5 by said rod, means slidahlerelatively to the respective rear legs, projecting beyond theircorresponding lower ends and supporting said rod, a stop bar pivotallysecured to the ifront pair of legs and hinged to said rod, said baraffording a support for an intermediate portion of 'the seat, and aspring plate secured to the underside of the seat having an intermediateflattened surface and adjacent spring lingers, the former adapted toengage a flattened surface of the rod and the latter circular groovesthereof.

l1. A collapsible chair, comprising a pair of front legs, a pair of rearlegs pivotally secured at their respective upper ends to eX- 29 tensionsof the front pair of legs and adapted toA [it within the saine, a rodnon-rotatably mounted in said rear pair of legs, a seat swingahlycarried along its rearward pOrtion by said rod, means slid ablerelatively t0 the respective rear legs, projecting beyond theircorresponding lower ends and supporting said rod, a stop bar pivotallysecured to the front pair of legs and hinged to said rod, said baraffording a support for an intermediate portion of the seat, and aspring plate secured to the underside of the seat and the rod beingprovided with two flattened sur faces adapted to be engaged by saidplate respectively when the seat is in a position in- 55 terinediate itsnormal horizontal location and the back of the chair and when the chairis in extended condition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. BAUER.

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